We are thrilled to feature Suwha Hong, the talented founder and designer behind the clothing brand HEUCY. With a taste of Parisian style, HEUCY offers effortless, chic and versatile looks for modern women on the go. Suwha has designed outfits that help you bounce from one appointment to the next with grace and comfort. The HEUCY team is now our newest contributor sharing fantastic tips for Beyond Mom style- check out their latest piece on cleansing your closet! Enjoy our interview with the lovely Beyond Mom Suwha and look out for more HEUCY posts right here!
1. What makes you a Beyond Mom?
I have 2 children – Lucy (6) and Henry (4) and have found that I don’t feel differently about my career/cultivating my creativity since having them. When I was pregnant with my first child I did wonder if I would suddenly and unexpectedly become less interested in designing and creating, but I haven’t found that to be the case. I love what I do and spending the time to do what I do, and I don’t feel like I have become a different person in that respect as a mother. I just have to be more efficient during the day so I can have time for my family in the evenings and weekends.
2. What are the parts of you that have grown and expanded since becoming a Mom?
I have become more efficient with my time and have become more disciplined with how I spend my day. I am now more grateful to have the mental and physical space to develop myself professionally and therefore spend less time proscrastinating during the day.
3. Can you share a collaboration/success story with another woman; what helped the collaboration become successful?
My collaboration with my great friend and business partner Henrietta Pertuz in building and growing HEUCY has been both successful and a joy. She is HEUCY’s marketing director, while I run the design/product side. We each bring a different strength to the table – Henrietta is a genius at marketing/selling the line because she is relational and insightful. I can be a little intense and can get stuck on the details, so Henny balances us out.
4. What relationships help you stay connected to yourself?
My relationships with my friends and family outside my nuclear family help me to stay connected with myself. I spend most of my day as a professional and evenings/weekends as a mother, so I feel like I am the most myself when I connect with people who don’t see me in a specific role other than just who I am.
5. Do you have a ‘Beyond’ dream that you are pursuing? If so, please share…
HEUCY of course! Through HEUCY I want to provide women with full, busy lives, (that would describe all moms) a chic, versatile and thoughtful option in dressing – a Parisian sensibility in casual dressing.
6. What wellness activity can you not live without? What is one thing you do daily that balances you?
I am not sure this qualifies as a wellness actvity but I need to shut off all my electronic devices and unplug myself from all social/professional networks at the end of the day – at least 1 hour before going to bed so I have at least that hour to just be present in non-virtual reality.
7. How does style influence the way you stay feeling ‘Beyond’? Who is currently your favorite designer?
I remember right after having my daughter Lucy seeing a chic mom pushing a stroller down the street wearing make-up and a fabulous dress and thinking, wow, will I ever get back to that place? I was having trouble remembering to brush my teeth so I couldn’t wrap my head around a DRESS! Make-up! Well, I did somehow get back on that horse, style wise, and feel that it is very important to care about yourself and not give up on looking like the best version of yourself! I am hoping HEUCY can provide that DRESS for moms (and single ladies who share the same desire to be comfortable AND stylish).
Favorite NYC Spots that Embody The Beyond Mom:
The Reservoir in Central Park (for mental health and fitness), the Whitney Museum (accesibly sized and always inspiring), Coney Island (for family outings where everyone can feel like a kid)
Beyond Cocktails and/or Food:
Cotta, a UWS neighborhood wine bar for a glass.
Cafe Storico inside the NY Historic Society for lunch.
Bobo in the West Village for cozy dinner in the winter.
The Americano Hotel Rooftop in the summer for dinner with views.
Beyond Workout:
The Stairmaster at the Equinox on 91st Street. I save my gossip mazagines for my weekly visits to the Stairmaster (I know so 1998 of me) where I proceed to read them cover to cover while I do my climb. My husband points out that if I can read I am not really working out, but I point out that the “reading” is what gets me to go to the gym so there’s that.
Beyond Shopping:
I am lucky to be able to pull from my own HEUCY line, but I also frequent the Outnet (www.outnet.com) for deals, Everlane (www.everlane.com) for basics and have a weakness for malls whenever I am outside NYC.
Beyond Inspiration:
Other entrepreneurs who are pursuing their dreams and pounding the pavement.
